Sentinel Society Member Newsletter: February 2023
Sentinel Society
Member Newsletter
February 2023
Student success is celebrated year-round at RIT. Each day, our students leverage the power of innovation and creativity to make the world a better place. Every achievement and “small win” advances the university to an even brighter future and deserves acclaim.
Your dedication to RIT helps empower students to make discoveries and take the actions that drive progress—and for that, we celebrate you. The many ways you engage with RIT by giving, interacting on social media, participating in events, lifelong learning, and volunteering are what strengthen student programs and services. With the support of our Sentinel Society members leading the way, 2023 is off to a strong start and holds great promise for the year ahead.
Your partnership means a great deal to us. Thank you for being a strong voice within our philanthropic community.
Welcome, new members
- Elizabeth Adams Lasser P ’23 and Clifford Lasser P ’23
- Brendyn A. Alexander BS ’06
- Kira B. Barnes
- Brian J. Blaser MBA ’90 and Kristine M. Blaser MBA ’93
- Gregory A. Brown BFA ’95 and Denise L. Avellanosa BS ’95
- Peter Y. Buniak BS ’04
- Linda M. Colanero BS ’02 and Andrew J. Kerrigan BS ’01
- Martin P. Daly BS ’89 and Judith E. Daly
- Dale J. Davis, Esq. BS ’96 and Nicole Davis, Ph.D.
- Ann Marie De Cesare P ’25 and Josh De Cesare P ’25
- Mike Della Porta BS ’05 and Kim Della Porta
- Tricia M. Dugan BS ’99
- Anthony P ’25 and Ronda Ferguson P ’25
- Bob Finnerty MS ’07, P ’18 and Rebecca Finnerty P ’18
- Peter L. Flom, Ph.D., P ’24
- Mark E. Forte BS ’91
- James W. Fulmer MBA ’79 and Marjorie Fulmer
- Stephen D. Guttenberg BS ’82
- David Hargrave
- Matthew Hauer MS ’21
- Wilbur C. Hinkston, Jr. MBA ’81
- Robert K. Hoggard
- Dr. Stephen Hoover
- Dr. Andre Hudson
- Dr. James Hutchinson P ’25 and Anne Hutchinson P ’25
- Robert L. Jacoby BS ’77 and Carol J. Jacoby
- Emily Kaufman P ’26
- Carolyn J. Kohmyak BS ’95 and Sergio Khomyak BS ’94
- Michael J. Lambert BS ’74
- Emily R. Lederman BS ’20 and Ethan C. Lestico BS ’20
- Matt Long P ’23, P ’25 and Lynn Long P ’23, P ’25
- Britta A. MacIntosh, PE BS ’89
- Jeffrey W. McCaw BS ’89
- Dr. Polly Murphy P ’23 and Dr. Marc Murphy P ’23
- Pooja T. Nanda BS ’09, MS ’09
- Carla J. Niederhofer BS ’88, P ’18
- Shayde L. Nofziger BS ’17
- Sreenivas Patil MS '08 and Priyavathi Reddy
- Marjorie E. Perlman MS ’89 and David E. Perlman
- Audra M. Pinkerton BS ’01 and James P. Maloney
- Alok Rai MS ’08
- Aparna Ramesh MS ’98
- Gleb Reznik BS ’03 and Denise L. Robinson BS ’03
- Robert H. Schrupp BS ’15
- Aaron T. Schwall BS ’22
- Robert B. Shea and Catherine Weisskopf
- Beth Singer P ’24 and Howard Smith P ’24
- Todd E. Spivak BS ’05 and Elizabeth M. Spivak BS ’06
- Martie A. Staser and Chris Staser
- David L. Szymanski, Ph.D., BS ’89
- Sandy L. Tiania BS ’95
- Harry P. Trueheart, III
- Thomas M. Turchioe BS ’85
- Christine Vargas BS ’93 and Hector G. Vargas BS ’04
- Greg R. Whitehouse BS ’74 and Christie Whitehouse
- Evan M. Winegard BS ’99, MBA ’10 and Jerilyn A. Winegard BS ’03
- Jeffrey Scott Wright BS ’96
- Albert W. Zahniser BS ’86 and Sharon L. Zahniser BS ’87
- Qiaosong G. Zheng BS ’14
- Larry S. Zurbrick BS ’76 and Nancy Zurbrick
A complete member listing can be found by visiting the online Sentinel Honor Roll.
Member News
Orlando Ortiz BS ’04, MBA ’08 and Denishea Ortiz BS ’04
“I want students to know alumni have their back.”
Orlando Ortiz, BS ’04, MBA ’08 says that providing support to RIT programs and services to help students gives him personal joy. “Students should know that there are others that came before them, who are rooting for them and want them to succeed. Then, someday, they can pay it forward when it’s their turn.”
There’s no doubt that Orlando and his wife, Denishea Ortiz BS ’04, are doing just that—paying forward the support they received when they were RIT students themselves—and doing so with inspiring conviction. Both were active participants in various organizations while in school and were awakened to the positive results of volunteering, philanthropy, and joining leadership groups. While they each have a long list of current community programs they support and volunteer with, RIT education and the campus community rank as a high priority.
“While I was a student at RIT, the most defining moments for me were getting involved and finding allies to help with personal and professional development,” comments Denishea. “I was a first-generation college student, far from home and with limited resources. I understand the importance of supporting students who have a similar background.”
Alumni status is just one aspect of Denishea’s and Orlando’s involvement with RIT. Denishea currently works at RIT as the executive director of strategic marketing, Auxiliary Services. She was also presented with the RIT Golden Brick Award in 2018. Although not a staff member, Orlando participates on the Alumni Association Board of Directors as the vice president, is a past Minett Professor, and is a 2017 recipient of the Division of Diversity and Inclusion Beacon Award. Both serve on the strategic planning committee for Saunders College of Business.
In addition to giving their time and talents, philanthropy has been an important focus for the Ortizes. A long history of giving preceded the couple’s Sentinel Society membership. They are dedicated supporters of the Division of Diversity and Inclusion and are helping to fund critical programs and initiatives similar to those that positively influenced their time as students.
“I believe RIT prepared me for the workforce through the classroom experience, but I firmly believe it was the experiences outside the classroom that allowed me to excel in many other areas in my life. These experiences were the true differentiating factor in my life,” explains Orlando.
When they aren’t busy with their RIT commitments, Denishea and Orlando are raising their son, Esaias, and are serving the greater community through numerous volunteer efforts.
- Denishea serves on the leadership boards for Causeway Community Partners, Rochester Area Community Foundation, Urban League of Rochester, Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc., Ibero-American Action League, and volunteers with Golisano Children’s Hospital Pediatric Tracheostomy Buddy Program and Monroe Milers running program.
- A manufacturing manager at Gleason Works, a real estate investor and property manager, Orlando is just as engaged locally. He serves on the boards of the Puerto Rican Festival, Inc., The Housing Council at PathStone, PathStone Corporation, Foodlink, Inc., and is a member of Latino America Unida, Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity, Inc.
- Denishea and Orlando have both been formally recognized for their generosity and dedication to building a greater good. Awards include Rochester Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and Rochester NextGen Young Philanthropist of the Year, among others. The Ortizes have also established an endowment fund through the Rochester Area Community Foundation in memory of their late son, Gian Xavier Ortiz, which supports education and special health care initiatives for the City of Rochester children.
Outreach and education remain at the heart of Orlando’s and Denishea’s personal, service-based mission and exemplify the Sentinel Society’s purpose of donor leadership.
“I want to be a role model for students and other alumni,” says Orlando. “I want them to look within themselves and see how they can make an impact for future RIT students.”
Sal Pellingra BS ’98, MBA ’01
Sal Pellingra BS ’98, MBA ’01 has a career journey that’s come full circle. He finds himself living back in Rochester, NY and strategically aligned to RIT—his alma mater, former employer, and now business ally.
As a proud supporter of the university, Sal credits the start of his packaging industry experience to his time as a student. His full-time job at Exxon Mobil Corporation simultaneously served as co-op credit while pursuing his degrees at RIT. Opportunities to teach part-time as an adjunct professor at RIT, and then for the University of Cincinnati, followed. Currently, Sal has returned to Rochester and is the Vice president of global package design, applications and business development at ProAmpac where he works side-by-side with RIT interns and other alumni.
“I deal with many large regional and global companies and interact with packaging engineers from many schools, but I get very excited when I find out I’m working with someone from RIT,” comments Sal.
His fervor for RIT students’ and graduates’ success drives Sal’s Sentinel Society membership, his position on RIT’s Industrial Advisory Board, and his involvement with a comprehensive internship program at ProAmpac.
“I want to see RIT graduates have a competitive edge. I see how much my RIT degrees did for me—allowing me to transition into different positions throughout my career—and my hope is that my support will provide the same opportunities for others. What I love most about the internship program is being able to instill practical knowledge in the interns and broaden their knowledge so they understand how things are in the real world.”
As an alum, Sal steadfastly supports RIT’s collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach to education, projects, and degree programs. He recalls his favorite memories as a student involving group assignments and team building with others across different concentrations. He stays in contact with many of the connections he met during that time.
And, as a father of four, Sal also knows first-hand that affording a college degree is difficult for many families. He says investing in the institution that launched his profession is extremely fulfilling.
“My RIT education allowed me the opportunity to help others. Students should be able to enjoy their time in college and learning without worrying about the cost of their education. Let’s be honest, what we all want for our children is their success and for them to get the most out of their degrees. In my opinion, whatever alumni can do to help the future generations is very important.”
Steve Yelland BS ’22
Alum and Sentinel member Steve Yelland BS ’22 is making a big impact on student professional development. His support of RIT’s Leader to Leader program, housed within The Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement, is providing valuable experiences for students to connect with alumni and learn the skills and competencies needed to successfully transition from college to the professional world.
“I’m passionate about leadership development,” says Steve. “I hope that through my support, students can receive the training needed to grow their leadership skills and have the opportunity to practice them.”
Steve’s commitment to students stems from his overall reverence for the university. His RIT story began in 1986 with earning an associate’s degree in graphic communications. A recent visit to campus stirred a sense of awe due to the institution’s growth; and like many alumni, Steve shares enthusiasm for RIT’s history as well as its evolution.
“I enjoyed walking around and striking up conversations with students. I also love how RIT has stayed true to its applied technology roots and focuses on sustainability,” he commented.
With a dedication to providing top-quality products and services, Steve knows first-hand the importance of workforce and organizational proficiency. He is currently the CEO and President of his family-owned packaging solutions company for which he is responsible for the overall vision and planning. Steve’s belief in the ability to adapt to day-to-day challenges, implement best practices, and strategically execute policies and procedures are fundamental for all individuals looking to jumpstart their careers, regardless of the industry.
Since RIT’s Leader to Leader program’s inception in the fall of 2020, 56 alumni have participated as panelists or content experts, and 264 students have attended the events. Ninety-four percent of student attendees reported that the events provided critical information that will help them better navigate the adjustment from RIT into their professional careers.
Dr. André Hudson
Dr. André Hudson, interim dean for the College of Science, has been included in this year’s list of the “50 Most Important African-Americans in Technology.” The 22nd annual list appeared in the December 2022 issue of the Journal of Black Innovation.
What's New on Campus
The SHED Q&A
The Student Hall for Exploration and Development (SHED) and the renovated Wallace Library will reopen in less than a year. Work has begun to schedule the fall semester classes that will be held for the first time in the SHED complex, and Joe Loffredo, RIT associate vice president for Academic Affairs and registrar, is leading the effort to assign the classrooms in Wallace Library.
Making a Mark on Saunders College of Business Expansion
During a Dec. 5 ceremony at Saunders College of Business, RIT President David Munson joined college namesake E. Philip Saunders and RIT community members in signing the steel beam that will support the 36,000-square-foot expansion and renovation of Lowenthal Hall.
Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness
You've helped RIT in so many amazing ways! With your support, we are now in the final stretch of our $1 billion blended campaign, Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness, and it’s clear that all of our generous donors truly understand what “greatness” means. You make it possible for RIT students to excel in every way. Your investment provides flexibility for the university to best serve our students and help them each reach their personal goals—obtaining their degrees and launching successful careers.
Together, we are delivering upon our promise to create a transformative student experience, attract exceptional talent, improve the world through research and discovery, and lead the future with innovation. Thank you!
RIT Reconnect
Join your Tiger family and President David C. Munson Jr. to learn more about RIT’s progress and goals, including an update on Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness.
Los Angeles
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Register Here
Washington DC
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Register Here *
*early access registration for Sentinel members available though Feb. 12
Power Your Potential
Friday, February 17, 2023 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
University Gallery, Vignelli Center
Join us on campus for a half-day women’s leadership conference that celebrates the upcoming National Women’s History Month in March. Hosted by the Saunders College of Business.
RIT’s Women’s Leadership Summit
Saturday, February 18, 2023 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Student Alumni Union
The Women’s Leadership Summit inspires, connects, and educations women and allies to become tomorrow’s future leaders in all industries. This year's keynote speaker is JoAnn Ryan MS ’04, President & CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities. Hosted by the Leadership Academy @ Saunders.
Twenty-five Years Through Movement and Space
The Department of Performing Arts at RIT/NTID presents a celebration of the career of Director of Dance Thomas Warfield in “Twenty-five Years Through Movement and Space,” February 24-26, 2023. The production honors Warfield’s 25 years as a senior lecturer and director of Dance at RIT/NTID and features dances from Warfield’s creative journey.
Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Mailed invitations to come with details for Sentinel member opportunities.
Take a look at All Upcoming RIT Events
Visit the events calendar for more information.
Sentinel members create unlimited possibilities.
Thank you for your support and leadership.